517 replies to this topic

[benjy_18]

well the photos are now back up, and heres a few more to add.

admittedly i havent done anything since i finished the subframe, lack of money and motivation are to blame for that.









almost finished now, just some more welding on the standard section to finish it off then it will get stripped and coated.

welded on some strengtheners to the boot floor aswell




ive also just bought myself a hydraulic handbrake which will sit beside the tunnel. it wont be used as a drift aid but purely as a line-lock system for launches etc
hopefully more over the next few weeks

Ben

[grahama]

Excellent subframe welding, but why the change to tube steel, will the original not fit round the new boot floor, or have I missed something??

Graham

Edited by grahama, 11 May 2012 - 09:07 PM.

[benjy_18]

youve hit the nail on the head there graham,
a few pages ago theres a photo of the section i had to cut out so that a standard frame would fit, but as i made the choice to run coilovers, it made most of the subframe redundant.

the tubular frame weighs less than a standard item (not sure how much, i didnt weight it before) and it still retains 4 mounting points which i prefer. this way i also have a lot of metal protecting the bottom of the fuel tank should anything manage to get there.

Ben

[benjy_18]

managed to skin the passenger door the other day (not finished as ill be moving it around slightly)

door gaps have got better with the skin on but the window frame is still really annoying me





also finished the O/S/R arch today, so ill clean that at the weekend and put some stone chip on there


im trying to get an hour or two on it every night after work to try and get it rolling in a few weeks.

it will be going on the floor at the weekend purely because ive forgotten how small they are so id like to have a chuckle and see how low its going to be riding aswell

Ben

[Artful Dodger]

looking really, really nice mate! sure is going to be a one off mini!!!


look forward to seeing this coming along 8)

harri

[benjy_18]

thanks harri!

well got a fair amount done today, first off i got it onto the floor ontop of some lengths off wood so its sitting at a rough ride height (100mm)



most of today was spent cleaning the floors and bulkhead areas and priming them ready for seam sealer and paint throughout this week




should be more updates as the week continues
Ben

[Artful Dodger]

hahaha hetty the hoover!

brill. if you were to weld the cage around your exhaust cover it would really tie in the rear near the b-pillars:)

keep at it!

Edited by MiniclubmanGT, 20 May 2012 - 07:43 PM.

[grahama]

Like the front bulkhead Ben, room for a couple of overnight bags in there no problem !!

Comming on nicely.

Graham

[benjy_18]

How do you mean Harri? I was going to weld the feet to the floor as the cage doesn't line up very well but I'm all ears to other opinions.

[benjy_18]

Thanks graham!
There's certainly a lot of room, makes a handy work bench at the minute aswell :)
Unfortunately it should get filled with some alloy catch tanks, carbon airbox and a tasty weber carburettor!

Ben

[Artful Dodger]

your exhaust housing cage bit, follows the shape of the floors and then goes up near the b posts, if i can see properly it looks like its not welded to the sides, maybe welding it solid would make the shell more solid? :)

[benjy_18]

I see what you mean now, I was thinking of adding some b pillar mounts to the cage itself. Which bolted to the original seat belt mounts and also some gusset plates in the a pillars.

Once I fit the seat rails the shell should be quite rigid.

Ben

[benjy_18]

just some seam sealing done tonight, but its progress all the same!





hopefully get some stonechip on the inner wing in the next couples of evenings, although i did notice two tiny patches that i have to weld in so that will need doing first

Ben

[benjy_18]

some more cleaning and priming today, feels good to have some pieces almost finished!


some small pieces that got welded in, then cleaned and primed


bulkhead nearly finished! i may dress some of the welds on the bulkhead box though

comments welcome as always
Ben

[benjy_18]

well isnt the weather lovely! shame its too hot to be sat inside a tin can with a grinder

i did manage to remove the rear bulkhead this morning before it got too hot, never fear it will be going back in. its out purely so that i can clean the boot floor and wheel arches perfectly.



im hoping to get the whole rear end (interior) in primer by this evening which leaves me with just the front floors and bulkhead to do, then i can paint the interior and weld bits in.

Ben